Sweet 16 Circles

Hi and welcome to the Sweet 16 Circles tutorial. This document will familiarize you with how your new product functions. This product works by using a template (.psd file in your download folder) and a Photoshop action (.atn file in your download folder) to automatically place your images within the 16 circles in a matter of minutes.First, decide what size you would like your collage to be:
This collage was limited to 10x10 at 300 dpi to speed up the download time. If you would like to up-size the collage please do so before running the action and inserting your images. This will yield a much better quality print.
Simply go to Image”“>Image Size”“> in Photoshop and make sure that “Constrain Proportions” is checked.
To use the automatic action to place your images into the template:
1 )) Open the PSD file (SWEET_16_CIRCLES.psd) into Photoshop.
2 )) Load the action “SWEET 16 CIRCLES - INSERT IMAGES.atn” into your Actions palette in Photoshop. (If you need help with loading actions we have a wonderful tutorial that explains everything at designaglow.com/tutorials.
3 )) Press “Play” on the Sweet 16 Circles action in your Actions Palette. (You can choose “INSERT ALL” to fill all sixteen circles in order, or add one image at a time by choosing the “INSERT ONE IMAGE”
action.)
4 )) Follow any instructions that pop up along the way.
*If you add your images one at a time, simply delete the "NUMBERS" layer when you are done.
TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF A CIRCLE:
1)) Double click the colored box next to the name of the desired layer.
2)) Select a new color.
3)) Click “OK”.
TO CHANGE THE TEXT:
1 )) Locate the layer “name” in your layers palette. You will see a tiny thumbnail with the letter “T” next to the text. Click the empty box to the left of the “T” to make this layer visible.
2 )) Double click the “T”. This will highlight the text in the template.
3 )) Type in the text that you would like to appear in the “name” circle. This text is currently within circle #5. If you would like to move it to another circle, simply select this layer and use the move tool to drag it to a new location.
INSERTING YOUR IMAGES BY HAND:
Although the action is great for speed, at times you may want to insert your images into the template by hand. This could occur when you want to work on the template and then save it for later, or when you need to change out an image that you placed by accident. The good news is it is very easy to place your images by hand, simply perform the following steps:
1 )) Locate the layer of the circle you would like to populate in your layers palette. The name of the layer will correspond to the number present above the circle. For example, if you would like to populate circle “1”, you will want to locate “IMAGE LAYER 1” in the layers palette.
2 )) Click once on the layer to highlight it.
3 )) Open the image you would like to insert into this position and drag it onto the template by using the “Move Tool” ( Keyboard shortcut “V”).
4 )) Now, to get your image to fit within the circle, we need to apply a “clipping mask”. To do this, go to LAYER -> CREATE CLIPPING MASK in our top menu in Photoshop. The image will now take on the shape of the circle.
5 )) The image will probably not fit correctly within the frame at first, so at this time you can resize the image by using the “Free Transform Tool” (Keyboard Shortcut Control+T, or Apple T on a Mac). Resize the image by dragging in the corners of the transform frame and don't forget to hold down the Shift Key to maintain perspective. When you are happy with the size and position of your image, simply press “Enter” to apply the transformation. Repeat this step for subsequent images.
Don't forget to remove the “NUMBERS” layer from the template by dragging it to the tiny trash can at the bottom of you layers palette.
ADDING A BORDER "STROKE" TO YOUR CIRCLES:
1)) Double click the desired IMAGE LAYER in your layers palette (or right click).
2)) Select "Stroke" at the bottom left.
3)) Choose the desired color and position for your stroke and click "OK".
4)) To repeat this stroke on all the circles, CONTROL+click on the stroked layer and select "Copy Layer Style" from the pop up menu.
5)) Select all the circle image layers that you would like to have a stroke. (COMMAND+click to select multiple image layers.)
6)) CONTROL+click any one of the selected layers and choose "Paste Layer Style" from the pop up menu.
CHANGING OUT IMAGES:
At times you may want to change out image in your template after the action is run. This is very easy to do, it's just important to understand how the template is set up. If you look at your layers palette after the action is run, you will see that your images appear on top of each of the hearts. To find the image that you would like to change out, simply locate the heart in your Layers Palette and look to the layer directly above it ”“ this will be the image that you will take out and replace. To remove the image, click on it once to highlight it and then click the trash can at the bottom of your layers palette. Now, follow the steps above (manually inserting your images) to insert your new image. Or, select the layer and then the “INSERT ONE IMAGE” action.
*NOTE ”“ For your convenience we have included a bonus folder called “PSE_ACTIONS”.Â This folder contains actions to add your images if you are using Photoshop Elements 6 or newer.Â Click here to learn how to add and run actions in PSE. We have also included an InDesign file called “SWEET-16-CIRCLES.indd” for easy drag and drop workflow.

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